BLUE HIGHWAYS

Oil Well RSC 144CD

Tracklist:
1. The Shape I'm In
2. The Weight
3. Stage Fright
4. I Shall Be Released
5. Don't Do It
6. Endless Highway
7. The Night They Drove Dixie Down
8. Across the Great Divide
9. This Wheel's on Fire
10. Saved)
11. Life Is a Carnival
12. W.S. Walcott Medicine Show

Bootleg from the Band's excellent concert at the Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ, 31 July, 1973 (the bootleg incorrectly lists the show as Feb 16, 73.) The album is a pretty nice quality soundboard. A recording from the same concert was also released on the bootleg This Wheel's on Fire.

PHILADELPHIA THE SPECTRUM

Spectrum (Philadelphia, PA); January 6, 1974 (afternoon)

Tracklist: Ballad Of Hollis Brown, Lay Lady Lay, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, It Ain't Me Babe, Tough Mama, Ballad Of A Thin Man [Dylan/Band]; Stage Fright, Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, King Harvest, Long Black Veil, I Shall Be Released, Up On Cripple Creek [Band]; All Along The Watchtower, LeopardSkin PillBox Hat, Knockin' On Heaven's Door [Dylan/Band]; To Ramona, Mama You Been On My Mind, Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll, Nobody 'Cept You, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) [Dylan]; Rag Mama Rag, When You Awake, The Shape I'm In, The Weight [Band]; I Don't Believe You, Forever Young, Something There Is About You, Like A Rolling Stone

NOTE: The packaging for this set includes an incorrect date and an inaccurate tracklist. DEEP: Surprisingly, a worthwhile 1974 audience recording in decent quality. While not up to current quality standards, an enjoyable set with some rarely offered tunes. Two listed tracks -- "As I Went Out One Morning" and" Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" -- are not included, of course. Nicely housed in a color, glossy slipcase, as are most Japanese disks these days.

THE POET AND THE PLAYERS

no label 2CD [T-483]

(1) Madison Square Garden (New York, NY); January 31, 1974 (evening) (line) (2) Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland, CA); February 11, 1974 (afternoon) (line)

Tracklist: Disc One - (1) Most Likely You Go Your Way, Lay Lady Lay, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, It Ain't Me Babe, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Stage Fright, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, King Harvest, When You Awake, Up On Cripple Creek, All Along The Watchtower, Ballad Of Hollis Brown, Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Disc Two - The Times They Are A-Changin', Don't Think Twice, Gates Of Eden, Just Like A Woman, Its Alright Ma, Rag Mama Rag, This Wheel's On Fire, The Shape I'm In (2) The Weight, Forever Young, Highway 61 Revisited, Like A Rolling Stone, Maggie's Farm, Blowin' In the Wind

DEEP: This recording carries the whole of Dylan's set (less one opening line) with no breaks between tracks, giving the listener all the pre-song tuning which led into the opening riff of each song. Well balanced with the vocals upfront and in your face and each Band member easily heard in "all la glory." A forceful performance from Dylan, although while listening I'm reminded how much more I enjoy these same versions more than 20 years later with the current band. As great as the Band was/is, the songs are not given any breathing room. It's as if between Dylan's lines there are 5 soloists elbowing their way in to play their riffs. Tracks are pretty standard although you do get several which are not on the official tour document. All in all this is one fine set.

rmd: This outing is one worth locating. Perfection it ain't, but the clarity of the instrumentation and the upfront vocals make it a much truer-to-being there experience than the all too slickly Asylum Records version. Mucho energy and excitement in the playing and in Bob's singing - about as good as it was going to get in the 1974 Tour de Force. You can once again feel those old Robbie Robertson/Garth Hudson motive forces kick in to transform many songs into a whole other level of frenzied overdrive. One that was born under fire, crafted out, and then became second nature during their shows eight years earlier. This was proof that they still had it and could still do it! (Bob Stacy)

PAINT THE DAYTIME BLACK

QRecords 23/24 [T-630]

(1) Forum (Inglewood, CA); February 14, 1974 (afternoon) (line) (2) Forum (Inglewood, CA); February 14, 1974 (evening) (line)

Tracklist: Disc One: (1) Lay Lady Lay, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, It Ain't Me Babe, Ballad Of A Thin Man; Stage Fright, Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, King Harvest, When You Awake, I Shall Be Released, Up On Cripple Creek; All Along The Watchtower, Ballad Of Hollis Brown, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, She Belongs To Me, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, Times They Are A- Changin',

Disc Two: Just Like A Woman, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding); Rag Mama Rag, This Wheel's On Fire, The Weight; Forever Young, Highway 61 Revisited, Like A Rolling Stone, Blowin' In The Wind (2) Endless Highway, The Shape I'm In; Highway 61 Revisited, Like A Rolling Stone, Maggie's Farm

DEEP: A killer soundboard recording that easily eclipses the previously available circulating boards from Boston and New York City. Almost complete, the sound is oh so fine - clear and distinct, packing a wallop and perfectly mixed between voice and instruments with nice separation. Contains both Bob and The Band's sets and the performances are explosive Sublime stuff. For those who think '74 was "ho-hum," this one will turn some heads and make you reevaluate. Nice package with some fine pics from the tour. Awesome set!

NOTE: For the afternoon show, the CDs include all the Band's performances except "The Shape I'm In," which appears on Before The Flood.

BOB'S BOOTS: A little extra magic was woven into the three Inglewood shows. The music was a little tighter, the vocal performances soar, and the soundboard mix was meticulous. The reasons being: 1) after 37 performances, the art of the show had been honed to perfection. 2) Even though it was only mid February, this was the final three concerts of the tour (and of the year) 3) Probably the biggest reason that all were in top form was that the final three shows were being recorded for a possible live LP release. This package contains a nearly complete performance, missing only the opening 'Most Likely You Go Your Way' and The Band's 'The Shape I'm In'. No loss for the latter, as it appears on the official release 'Before The Flood'. However, this show's version of 'Most Likely You Go Your Way' is not the official release version. It's unknown as to why it would be left out of this 2 CD set. A good choice for the evening show filler material is The Band's only performance of 'Endless Highway' and one of only four tour performances of 'Maggie's Farm'. However, the boat was missed on releasing the most commonly performed 'Like A Rolling Stone' and leaving off the only tour performance of 'Mr Tambourine Man'. This fantastic set becomes slightly redundant for the casual collector, as it is close to the official release. The completeist and/or fan of the '74 tour, however, will find a true gem in this incredible sounboard recording.

PALLADIUM, NYC

Date: 9/18/76 Location: New York, NY The Palladium Source: FM

Track list: Disc One: 1. Ophelia 2. Shape I'm In 3. It Makes No Difference 4. The Weight 5. King Harvest 6. Twilight 7. Dixie Down 8. Unfaithful Servant 9. Stagefright

1. Forbidden Fruit 2. Acadian Driftwood 3. Genetic Method 4. Chestfever 5. Wheels on Fire 6. Don't Do It 7. Up on Cripple Creek 8. Life Is a Carnival